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hydraulic press
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hydraulic press A diagram illustrating Pascal's principle in hydraulics shows a small piston on the left applying force to a fluid, which is transmitted to a larger piston on the right lifting a car. The diagram labels the areas, forces, and equations demonstrating how a small force on a small area creates a larger force on a larger area.
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Blaise Pascal
Joseph Bramah
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hydraulic press
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History

hydraulic press, device consisting of a cylinder fitted with a sliding piston that exerts force upon a confined liquid, which, in turn, produces a compressive force upon a stationary anvil or baseplate. The liquid is forced into the cylinder by a pump. The hydraulic press is widely used in industry for forming metals and for other tasks where a large force is required. It is manufactured in a wide variety of styles and sizes and in capacities ranging from 1 ton or less to 10,000 tons or more.

This article was most recently revised and updated by Amy Tikkanen.